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it's a water trough, NOT a swimming pool - photo link added

ELMO - 1
JACKSMOM - 0

i now know why ponies are so damned cute. it's to keep us from killing them.

it's mid feb, and 70 degrees here today, clearly it's a good time to go for a swim, according to the elmo pony. this is behavior that he usually saves for late summer, so clearly spring fever is upon us. it's a metal trough and he's unshod, so he doesn't do any real damage, but the problem is that the mare will absolutely not drink from a soiled trough (and i don't blame her one bit). fortunately she's very vocal to let me know that it is something that needs immediate remedying, even though she's not yet remotely thirsty.

so my current solution is put the trough up on a sturdy layer of centerblocks, effectively raising it up 8 inches. elmo is a medium pony, if he wants in now - he's going to have to rear himself up quite a bit to clear the edge. i'm hoping this works. i guess the next step would be to add a cover with an opening that's just drinking size.

anyone else had to deter trough swimming? what do you find is the most effective method? electroshock therapy? ponycide?

A number of years ago, my dear 16.2h TB and his buddy the 16.1h TB used to think it was great to each jump in with your front feet and then play halter tag with your buddy while in the water trough... caught them on multiple occasions... boy Rubbermaid troughs are made well!

Now we just have our Rottie who thinks all water troughs are just for his swimming pleasure. Even does so at my friend's farm...

And for more water trough antics, last summer I made the mistake of trying the fish in the water trough to stop algae trick... Caught 2 of our mischievous ponies with their heads in there, water up over their eye balls and a fly mask in one of their precious little lips being used as a net. 3 of the 5 little fishies were m.i.a. ... Never knew ponies loved sushi so much...

My semi-rescue horse likes to swim in the water trough, and with the warm spell we're currently having ... well, I've just given up on filling the trough very far so I dont' waste as much water when I dump it daily. Sigh. And pulled the tank heater out, of course.

I tried putting it up on blocks last year, but I have two mini-donks as well, and if it's high enough to discourage (not prevent, just discourage) swimming, then they can't drink out of it.

And for more water trough antics, last summer I made the mistake of trying the fish in the water trough to stop algae trick... Caught 2 of our mischievous ponies with their heads in there, water up over their eye balls and a fly mask in one of their precious little lips being used as a net. 3 of the 5 little fishies were m.i.a. ... Never knew ponies loved sushi so much...

My pony has killed many a fish in his short life. Once caught, they are left to die a cruel death on the ground. The least I could hope for is to play with the darn thing like a cat does a mouse, but no.. he's to prissy for that kind of play.

Timely thread - I told my husband today that spring must REALLY be here since my 6-yr-old mare climbed in her water trough and splashed most of the water out. She makes a HUGE racket while doing this. Then of course, she had to go roll afterwards.

The ironic thing is that I then had to groom her before I took her SWIMMING (literally - she goes swimming to help build up strength in her stifles.)